The Beginning

In December 2006, nine months after our wedding date, I blogged the following post (below in italics). This post is dreamy and full of hope and love and laughter. It bleeds of the beginnings of a fairy tale. A fairy tale that I believed would lead me to happily ever after. Yes, I heard them say, "marriage is hard" and yes, I believed it was. Yes, I heard them say, "50% of marriages end in divorce." Yes, I heard them say, "the bills, sex, in-laws....." Yes, I believed it all.

Despite knowing that the devil would attack my marriage, I could never have expected how mighty the attack would be nor how the merciful grace of God would shine in all the dark places. I recently made a Facebook post about how suffering in my marriage has led me to a deep understanding of God's sovereignty. So many people responded with encouragement and understanding and an appreciation for the truth that I am inspired to share more of my story in hopes to shine God's light for others who may be walking in darkness. I have walked through the dark and in so many ways, I still am. Lets walk together and let's start at the beginning.

"For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light." Mark 4:22

"Westley Aaron Morehead was born in 1974 in south Mississippi. He had dark hair, dark eyes, and naturally tan skin. He was a good child who enjoyed pleasing others. He grew up with 4 siblings and learned to love music and play trombone. He dreamed of making $50, 000 being a teacher in the 80's and 90's when no teacher was making that kind of money. He moved to Indiana when he was in high school and marched Drum Corps. This eventually led him to New York where he performed on Broadway, played for the President of the United States, had his hair cut with Sinbad, tossed a few balls on the baseball field with the Fonz, and his cast and crew won a Tony. Eventually, he moved to Kosciusko, MS to teach band to children.

Amanda Brooke Ramage was born in 1981 in Kosciusko, MS. She had dark hair and dark eyes which eventually turned to auburn hair and hazel eyes. She was firecracker of a child. She loved getting her way and would go to certain lengths to get it. She really wanted someone to play with, but when her twin sisters were born, she wanted to send them back. She loved Carol Burnett, Strawberry Shortcake, Cabbage Patch Kids, and Rainbow Bright. She wanted to make it into the classroom history book by becoming the first women president. She tried playing the clarinet, but it interfered too much with her social life, so she quit. Thanks to a good friend, she got a part-time job at the public library during college. This job eventually turned into a department head position. She bought her first house in 2003 at the age of 22. In August 2004, Brooke was informed that a band director from the junior high school would be coming over to the library to introduce himself to her.

First and foremost, Brooke did not believe that anyone in their right mind was going to walk across the street and introduce them self to her. Second, she was not sure that she wanted a "band geek" to be the person who did just that. (Remember she dropped out of band for her social life). Well, through hear say of several junior high students (these people can always be trusted, right?), Brooke decided to do a little Internet search on this junior high band director named Wes Morehead. 

As Brooke had suspected, no one was going to prance over to the library and introduce themselves to a complete stranger. Wes did some investigating of his own on this Marion Librarian chick. His detailed investigation involved finding her composite photo on the walls of the KHS commons. This outdated photo proved useful enough.

On an unsuspecting day, Wes Morehead stopped by the library to meet Brooke Ramage. He was wearing a pink shirt and a huge smile. After what Brooke thought was an unusual hand shake of, "Wes Morehead, damn glad to meet to ya", the two exchanged numbers, and Wes promised to call the next week. Something about this encounter struck Brooke as funny, and she found herself chuckling as he walked out of her office.

TO BE CONTINUED......"